Predictors of patient satisfaction with surgical care in a low-middle-income country

Abstract

Introduction: Patient attending a surgical clinic may have some factors contributing to favorable satisfaction following consultations. This study is to determine the predictors of patient satisfaction with care in the surgical outpatient clinic (SOPC) of a University Teaching Hospital in a low-middle-income country.Materials and Methods: This is an analytical cross-sectional study which was conducted at the SOPC of a University Teaching Hospitals. A systematic sampling method with a sample interval of 1:2 was used to enroll respondents after consultation with a doctor using the short form of the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-18. The reliability test showed that the questionnaire section for overall satisfaction was acceptable (α =0.67 which was higher than the lowest acceptable threshold of 0.60 (obtained from substantial sample). Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical software and P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.Results: A total of 466 respondents provided complete information giving a response rate of 95.1%. About 52.8% were males and 47.2% were females. The mean age ± standard deviation was 43.2 ± 15.2. The overall level of satisfaction was 60.9%, 95% confidence interval was 59.7–62.0, and the predictors for overall patients' satisfaction were male gender, older age of patient, higher monthly income, higher self-rated health status, and beneficiaries of free health care.Conclusion: The level of patients' satisfaction with quality of surgical care was high and the identified predictors being male, free health care, and patients' self-rating of health status.The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Interpersonal and communication skills, Patient care, Practice-based learning and improvement, Systems-based practice.